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“Oh no.” Andy felt sick. “Uncle C.?”

He’d phoned the hospital about an hour earlier and had been told there was no change.

“No, no,” Clark said quickly. “Cutty’s okay.”

Fleur threw him a look of disbelief. “He’s notokay, Clark. He’s in acoma, for heaven’s sake! Which is why we’re here.”

“You’re here…why?” Andy was genuinely confused.

“Someone has to take charge of his affairs, and that someone is obviously Clark.” Fleur planted her hand in Clark’s back and gave him an unobtrusive push.

Clark stepped forward, and Andy stepped back.

Andy said, “Please come in,” which probably sounded a little sarcastic. Because it was a little sarcastic.

But seriously. What the hell?

“Sorry to intrude, Andy,” Clark apologized, which earned another look of exasperation from Fleur. “It’s just that Fleur feels—”

“Clark, we’re notintruding.” Fleur turned her glittery gaze on Andy. “The truth is, you sprang this idea of staying here on us, Andy. Now that we’ve had time to think it through, it reallyisinappropriate under the circumstances for you to take up residence in Uncle’s home.”

Andy echoed, “Inappropriate?”

“Yes. Uncle Cuthbert is such a…so private, I’m sure the last thing he’d want is someone poking around through his belongings.”

Clark protested, “Fleur.”

“Are you serious?” Had they been stewing about this since they’d spoken at the hospital that morning? It seemed so.

Fleur flushed, but it was Clark she rounded on. “Clark, we talked about this. You told me you supported my decision!”

“Whatdecision?” Andy stared from Fleur to Clark. Clark avoided his eyes.

Fleur forged on. “Since Uncle never made a will, it only makes sense that, as his closest relative, Clark would act as his executor. And as his executor, Clark would prefer that you not stay here. That you…you vacate the premises. Until we can sort everything out. Legally. Properly.”

He’s not dead!

Andy just managed not to shout that out loud. Instead, he said, and even he could hear how weirdly calm he sounded, “Why would you assume Uncle C. didn’t make a will?”

It was suddenly so quiet, he could hear the surf hitting the rocks on the other side of the road.

A disembodied voice floated in from the living room behind them. “This is the second such robbery in Knox County to occur within the last thirty days. Authorities are askinganyone with information to contact Lt. Saul Richardson, Belfast Police Department.”

Fleur stammered, “H-he w-would have told us. He would have told Clark. Uncle Cuthbert’s so absent-minded! His head’s always in the clouds. He wouldn’t ever talk about things like his finances or his…his final arrangements.Never.”

“Not with you, he wouldn’t.” And that time, Andydidsay it aloud.

Fleur went white. Clark went red and then began to bluster. “What’sthatsupposed to mean?”

Andy already regretted that little bit of brutal frankness. In his experience—experience with Marcus, anyway—honesty was rarely the best policy.

He said in a more conciliatory tone, “It’s my understanding that Uncle C.doeshave a will. He’s always used Pratt & Penby for legal stuff, so I guess you could check with them. But I think it’s a little premature.”

Fleur had already recovered. “Spare us the snooty attitude, Andrew. We know you think this is all in terrible taste, butsomeonein this family has to be practical.”

Clark had fallen silent. He regarded Andy for a long moment. “You know what’s in his will, don’t you?”

Fleur threw him a frightened look. “There’s nothing in the will. There’snowill!”